Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

What is phonics?

1. A technique for sharing stories

2. Direct correspondence between letters and sounds

3. Identification of text structures

4. Understanding the meaning of words

The correct answer is: Direct correspondence between letters and sounds

Phonics is fundamentally defined as the direct correspondence between letters and sounds. This approach emphasizes the relationship between the phonemes, which are the smallest units of sound in speech, and the graphemes, the letters or groups of letters that represent those sounds in writing. Phonics instruction teaches students how to decode words by connecting sounds to their corresponding letters, enabling them to read and pronounce words accurately. This method is crucial for early literacy development, as it supports children in understanding how written language functions. By mastering phonics, students can apply this knowledge to decode unfamiliar words on their own, fostering both reading fluency and comprehension. Additionally, phonics lays the groundwork for developing spelling skills, as students learn how sounds are represented in written form. In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe phonics. Techniques for sharing stories focus more on narrative skills and expression, identification of text structures pertains to comprehension strategies, and understanding the meaning of words relates more to vocabulary development rather than the foundational skills of reading that phonics provides.